On such a warm day – it’s been 31c here this afternoon – I just took a look through some old LX3 images languishing on one of my external drives, searching for one particular photograph I remember shooting one evening in winter, when it was considerably cooler & more comfortable. It’s an image I shot soon after I bought my LX3, that has been one of the ‘most-viewed’ on my zenfolio site (where there are tons of other LX3 images as well). For more, just go to http://nickbland.zenfolio.com

The feedback I got on this image reminded me of one of the reasons I was so excited at having an LX3 – its low-light capabilities were, and still are, proof that this Panasonic really did change the perception – and the reality – of what could be expected of a compact camera : with a superb light-gathering Leica-designed lens, in combination with a sensitive imaging sensor and cutting-edge (at the time) processing circuitry, it was at its launch pretty well untouchable.

That it still holds up is testament to its innate quality, and begs the question : Just how much better will/can the LX5 be ?

But that’s not all. There’s further speculation as of this morning that there are in fact four new Panasonics being unveiled in Sweden this week – but only to a private/dealer audience. Further details for the rest of us later in the month …you may like to bookmark this page, and check back here for more details as soon as they’re available.

Of particular interest is that there’s the possibility – and it is only that – that Panasonic will introduce two new cameras this year that will be of particular interest to the LX3 brigade :

LX5 (no LX4 likely …4 being considered unlucky in Japanese culture)

ANOther model, with m43 sensor and fixed lens, along the lines of the Leica Digilux3/Panasonic L1 in size and style

Both exciting propositions, then – and also likely to see the light of day as Leica-branded versions. More soon.